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Introduction to APM Interoperability with SAP

APM provides plugin technology that allows users to view and reference live, read-only data in SAP Plant Maintenance for the purpose of performing stand-alone strategy development. Using APM data loading functionality, you can import equipment and functional locations from SAP as new APM assets. You can also automatically update the assets in APM when their linked functional locations and equipment change in the SAP system. APM can generate checksheets for new SAP maintenance orders. You can create SAP work documents when acknowledging alarms and performing other tasks in APM.

This topic provides an overview of the tasks you can perform when APM has been configured to interact with SAP Plant Maintenance. The alignment between the two systems is used primarily by strategy development analysts, inspectors (also known as asset owners or reliability managers), and asset operators.

This topic covers the following actions and information. Links are provide to related topics.

•	View Live SAP Data

•	Synchronize Asset Data with SAP Objects

•	Update SAP Objects with the Results of Asset Prioritization Analysis

•	Reference SAP Corrective Tasks During Strategy Development Analysis

•	Request Reviews of Reliability Programs using SAP Work Documents

•	Create and Update Checksheets from SAP Maintenance Orders

•	Acknowledge Indicator Alarms using SAP Work Documents

•	Request Follow-up Work using SAP Work Documents

For information about setting up interoperability, see APM Interoperability Guide for SAP Plant Maintenance.

View Live SAP Data

When APM has been configured to access information in SAP Plant Maintenance, the SAP Portal view is added to sites and additional tabs are available on the Assets, Reliability Program, and Work Management views. The tables in these views list the objects in the SAP system, for example, functional locations, equipment, task lists, and maintenance items. Configurations are provided to filter the lists according to the plants selected in the site’s interoperability settings.

A properties window is available for each SAP object. For several types of object, the property window’s Usage view contains tabs that list associated APM objects: checksheets, standard tasks, action plans, and proposed tasks. These tabs are available for maintenance items, maintenance plans, general task lists, equipment task lists, and functional location task lists.

When an APM asset, standard task, or checksheet references an SAP object, information is added to both the APM and SAP objects’ windows.

For more information, see Viewing SAP Plant Maintenance Data in APM.

Synchronize Asset Data with SAP Objects

Using APM data loading functionality, you can import equipment and functional locations from SAP as new APM assets. You can also update the assets in APM when their linked functional locations and equipment records change in the SAP system.

You can manually link an APM asset to an SAP equipment record or functional location, provided that the site’s interoperability profile permits it. In the APM Asset window, you can add a reference to its corresponding SAP object.

For more information, see Working with Assets and SAP Plant Maintenance Information.

Update SAP Objects with the Results of Asset Prioritization Analysis

You can use data loading to synchronize assets’ consequence priorities with the ABC indicators of linked SAP equipment and functional locations. The information is exported to SAP when the results of asset prioritization analysis are applied to assets.

For more information, see Applying Prioritization Analysis Results to Assets.

Reference SAP Corrective Tasks During Strategy Development Analysis

The analysis team is responsible for requesting one-time maintenance corrective work for an asset. You can reference SAP objects (task lists, maintenance items, maintenance plans, task list operations) as corrective tasks in action plans. You can also reference them as proposed tasks in failure mode feasibility evaluations.

SAP information is available in CPR, MTA2, RCM2, RBI, SIF, and HAZOP analyses.

For more information, see any of the following:

•	Adding Corrective Tasks to CPR Action Plans

•	Adding Corrective Tasks to MTA2 Action Plans

•	Adding Corrective Tasks to RCM2 Action Plans

•	Adding Corrective Tasks to RBI Action Plans

•	Adding Corrective Tasks to SIF Action Plans

Request Reviews of Reliability Programs using SAP Work Documents

When reviewing assets, standard tasks, and indicators, you can request a reliability program review, suggesting actions like creating, modifying, or deleting a component in the reliability program. In the Request dialog, you can specify the type of change, describe the required action, and add a work planning document: a new or existing SAP notification or maintenance order. You can then view requests at the site or object level. You can also cancel requests or mark them “Completed”.

For more information, see:

•	Reviewing Assets’ Reliability Programs

•	Reviewing CPR Assets’ Reliability Programs

•	Reviewing MTA2 Assets’ Reliability Programs

•	Reviewing RCM2 Assets’ Reliability Programs

•	Reviewing RBI Assets’ Reliability Programs

•	Reviewing SIF Assets’ Reliability Programs

Create and Update Checksheets from SAP Maintenance Orders

APM can generate checksheets for new SAP maintenance orders. Here’s how it works:

•	Link an APM standard task to the appropriate SAP maintenance item. (A maintenance item can be linked to one or more standard tasks)

•	When an order call is issued in SAP, a maintenance order is created based on the requirements of the called maintenance item

•	APM is alerted to the new maintenance order and identifies all of the standard tasks linked to the maintenance item

•	APM generates a checksheet for each of the standard tasks that allow

Note: APM uses the Create Checksheets from Maintenance Orders method to retrieve information from SAP and generate the checksheets. The method can be executed manually or using a scheduled action.

•	Set up the scheduled action (Update Checksheets with SAP Order Values) to update the order status and dates for open checksheets that are linked to SAP maintenance orders. The method can be executed manually or using a scheduled action

As an alternative to linking standard tasks to maintenance items, you can link tasks to SAP task lists. The process is the same as with maintenance items. We recommend using one method or the other. If you use both, duplicate checksheets might be generated.

You can link standard task templates to general task lists. The extraction process creates a standard task using the template for the APM asset linked to the maintenance order’s functional location or equipment. (If the maintenance order references both a functional location and equipment, APM uses the asset linked to the functional location.) A standard task is created only if a suitable standard task does not already exist for the asset.

For more information, see:

•	Linking a Standard Task to an SAP Maintenance Item or Task List

•	Linking a Task Template to an SAP General Task List

•	Checksheets and SAP Plant Maintenance

Acknowledge Indicator Alarms using SAP Work Documents

Once the APM inspection process is complete, the corrective work is managed in SAP. You can create or reference SAP work documents when acknowledging indicator alarms, requesting follow-up work, or requesting reliability program reviews.

You can acknowledge indicator alarms by referencing or creating maintenance orders or notifications. When using the Acknowledge Indicator Alarm dialog, you can select an existing SAP document or create one.

This functionality is enabled in the site’s interoperability profile. In the profile properties, you can specify that either SAP or APM work documents are used. Note that both cannot be used on the same site.

For more information, see Acknowledging Indicator Alarms and Warnings.

Request Follow-up Work using SAP Work Documents

Follow-up and corrective work can be initiated in a variety of situations. For example, inspectors are responsible for requesting maintenance work for an indicator that is not in alarm. This could be an indicator that doesn’t use states or an indicator that isn’t in alarm but needs some maintenance work. You can also request maintenance corrective activities when authoring inspection reports. Asset operators, responsible for maintaining a safe and reliable work environment, can request maintenance corrective work when a safety override is active.

SAP maintenance orders and notifications can be referenced or created when you request follow-up work on indicator readings, inspection reports, safety override incidents, and action plans.

For more information, see:

•	Requesting Follow-up Work for an Indicator Reading

•	Requesting Follow-up Work from an Inspection Report

•	Requesting Follow-up Work for an Override Incident

•	Adding Follow-up Work to CPR Action Plans

•	Adding Follow-up Work to MTA2 Action Plans

•	Adding Follow-up Work to RCM2 Action Plans

•	Adding Follow-up Work to RBI Action Plans

•	Adding Follow-up Work to SIF Action Plans